Minelab Explorer Classroom Forum

(This question may have come up before on the forums) I am not new to minelab (had an explorer 1) my question is, is there a big difference in the explorer SE and the e track? Is it worth the extra cost to get the e track? what is the big difference in the units? I understand that the e track has a usb connection, is that to program the detector? Where would one get the programs? do they differ in pinpointing. Just looking for a bit of guidance on these units. I know that weight is an issue with both.

Have run the Explorer XS / SE / Etrac side by side (last week actually) with no difference in performance depth wise - any target 1 found the other 2 found just as easily - coils were Sunray X-12 on XS, Pro coil on SE and SEF on Etrac - if you want the absolute truth the Etrac did report more targets as iron than really were, but after convincing the user to change a few things he matched us a little more evenly.

I've always had an Explorer and have just ordered a new SE but only because I can, and so have peace of mind as regards warranty etc - otherwise I'd be happy to buy used.

Nice answer, short and to the point. I've also opted for the SE due to many posts saying the same thing... Albeit my learning curve will be a bit steeper as this will be my first Minelab...wish me luck!

If you were new to Minelab, I might think E-Trac. But, since you have Explorer experience in the past, I say go with the SE Pro. Honestly, being familiar with both, I think you -- as a former Explorer user -- will do real well with the SE Pro and don't have a whole lot to gain going with the E-Trac. Both are great units though, and you really can't go wrong with either.

No, triplehooked! You aren't in trouble! The SE Pro may be a bit tougher -- it tends to run a little less "stable" than the E-Trac, meaning there will be a bit more falsing/chattering on the SE Pro for you, most likely. One key there is NOT to run your sensitivity too high, if using manual, or just run auto. You will sacrifice some depth, but still will be able to hit deep stuff -- and then when you get used to the machine a little more, you can push sensitivity up a bit -- keeping it below where it starts getting too "falsy" (Bryce recommends "26" as a good setting).

BUT -- it's only "tougher" at first. Once you get used to it, its nuances, its sounds, and how it responds to different targets at different depths, the SE is deadly.

Paul -- to give you a bit more complete of an answer, as you asked a few specific questions:

The USB on the E-Trac is for downloading disc. patterns from other users.

The poinpointing is different on the two; the E-Trac has a pretty nice "graphical" feature, hard to describe, that shows when you have "zeroed in" on the target, but I prefer the nuances of the SE Pro pinpointing just a bit better.

The biggest difference between the two, IMO, is that the E-Trac tries to "normalize" all "good" targets' FE values to "12." Instead of different FE values for different coins like on an Ex. II or SE/SE Pro, coins (except silver dollars) will generally ID on the FE side as "12" on an E-Trac (unless deep, or in very mineralized ground). This is a different way of looking at things, if you have prior experience with Explorers. Also, the smartfind screen is "flipped" -- where FE increases from top to bottom on the E-Trac, instead of from right to left as on the Explorers, and the CO numbers increase from left to right on the E-Trac, instead of from bottom to top on the Explorers. So, again, if you are a former Explorer user, you may find the SE Pro more to your liking (and just as capable of a hunter, IMO).

QuotePaul(Massachusetts)
(This question may have come up before on the forums) I am not new to minelab (had an explorer 1) my question is, is there a big difference in the explorer SE and the e track? Is it worth the extra cost to get the e track? what is the big difference in the units? I understand that the e track has a usb connection, is that to program the detector? Where would one get the programs? do they differ in pinpointing. Just looking for a bit of guidance on these units. I know that weight is an issue with both.

Thanks

Paul

Big different if you like to use discrimination, etrac can be used much more faster with discrimination and different discrimination patterns, because a bit faster processor. without discrimination they are very very similar or the same. because etrac is based on old explorer.